The transtasman bubble would ease travel restrictions between the two counties and be put in place once the necessary health, transport and other protocols had been developed, the prime ministers said in a joint statement.

The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) has created an expert panel, the Transtasman Safe Border Group, to look into the protocols.

It will include representatives from Border Force, health authorities, quarantine authorities, airlines and airports.

The expert panel met for the first time on Tuesday, and will spend three to four weeks discussing protocols that will be passed on to both governments.

A survey conducted by the Australian Deer Association in April found that 11% of Australian deer hunters had planned to hunt in New Zealand in 2020. Just under half of Australian hunters will engage a local guide when in New Zealand. Australian hunters are twelve times more likely to engage a guide in New Zealand than they are in their home State and three times more likely than they are when hunting Interstate in Australia. The same is true of Kiwi hunters taking advantages of opportunites on a wide range of unique game in Australia.

The transtasman bubble could open up opportunites for hunting guides and outfitters on both sides of the ditch who have been impacted by COVID 19 restrictions.